ParfumGigi@aol.com
Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:43:41 EDT
Former medical lobby staffer sentenced for embezzling
ATLANTA The former bookkeeper of one of Georgia's most powerful lobbying groups was sentenced today to one year in federal prison for embezzling more than 140-thousand dollars meant for a lobbying campaign.
Stephanie Verden, a 50-year-old former Medical Association of Georgia staffer, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of bank fraud after funds were found to be missing from bank accounts in March 2005.
Verden's attorney told the court she took the money to pay medical bills for her husband.
Her crime raised concerns among some association members who say the embezzlement and other accounting woes have put the group's financial credibility at risk. A few have called for a change in leadership.
The Federal Elections Commission has questioned the finances of the group's political action committee, including more than 660-thousand dollars left in an account slated to be closed. Redords show that another accounting flaw prompted the group to restate its finances dating to 2001 to the Georgia Ethics Commission.
